How to do Community-Based Epidemiological Surveillance, using WhatsApp and My Maps

Among the tools used for the Community-Based Surveillance and Monitoring (CBSM) protocol in the Community Action Project against Zika (CAZ) , ovitraps are useful for monitoring the mosquito vector of Zika. An ovitrap is a place where mosquitoes lay their eggs. It is a black, cylindrical container filled with water that is made to be an ideal location for a female Aedes aegypti mosquito to lay eggs (Nature,2011).

The Colombian Red Cross has installed ovitraps as a pilot in five of its branches or subsidiaries. In Antioquia Branch, 40 ovitraps were installed in the communities of Maria Cano and Bello Oriente in the third commune of Medellin.

Given the need to ensure an effective inspection of ovitraps, monitor ovitrap location, measure impact of actions, and merge this with geographical information such as topographic features of the land, the National Society has developed SIMONE (EN: Entomological Monitoring System- SP:Sistema de Monitoreo Entomologico). The tool brings together features of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), making use of applications that are free, friendly and easy to access and manage for anyone.

The tool focuses on visualization of results for the ovitrap monitoring, storing information of previous visits and other relevant factors including the description of the area, recorded pictures and risks associated with the area being monitored.

Thanks to the versatility of SIMONE, it‘s being utilised for every inspection, allowing geolocation of each ovitrap, classification, visualization of results, as well as, visualization of intervention areas and influential factors.

The challenge for Colombian RC and its Antioquia Branch is to implement the system in the rest of the branches where the ovitraps have been installed and streamline the process for data collection, data processing and include more critical information to boost the epidemiological analysis.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is the world's largest humanitarian network and is guided by seven Fundamental Principles: Humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, universality and unity.